Container closure



Sm 2Q, i1 EL E. www; @www CONTAINER cLosimE Filed NOV. l5, 1925 INI/ENTOR. 5M/TM A TTORNEY.

50 medef- Patented Sept. 29., 1931 UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, OALIE'ORNIA 4 CONTAINER CLOSURE Application med. November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,350.

'Ihis invention relates to closures for containers.

The general object vof the invention is to provide an improved automatic valve closure 5 for collapsible tubes.

A specific object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding a closure member upon a container held in place by the inside of the tube. v

`19 A further object of the invention lis to'vv provide a collapsible tube with a closure member the top surface of which conforms to the shape ofthe tube end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield for an automatic lvalve closure.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s, wherein: ig. 1 is acentral vertical section partly in elevation showing a collapsible tube provided with an automatic valve closure and a shield for the closure; Fig'.A 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 with the shield removed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the valve open with the tube contents being extruded. f

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of valve slit.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the tube clo sure shown in Fi 1 before it is applied .to the collapsible tue. f

F ig. 6 is a top plan view of the tube closure shown in Fig. 4 before it is applied to the collapsible tube.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section partly in elevation showing a collapsible tube provided with a closure, wherein the valve slit 4o is made by the use of a sharp instrument.

' Fig. 8 1s a top plan view of the closure shown in Fig. 7 before it is applied vto the valve and. before Ythe valve .j sht is formed therein. V Fig'. 9 is a view similar to F1gx8 showmg i the closure after the valve slit has.4 been made. v f

Fig. 10 is a view similar to F1g. 7 showlng the manner in which a round valve port is Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the round port after it has been made.

Fig. l2 shows a modiied form of automatic valve closure shield.

gig. 13 is a modified form of tube closure, an

Fig. 14 is another modified form of tube closure.

Referring to the drawings: by reference characters, I have shown` a colla sible tube at 10. This tube is preferably so and flex-- ible and may serve as a receptacle for den? tifrice, shaving cream, paste, or other viscous substances. In the following description I will refer to my invention as applied `to collapsible tubes but it will be understood that itis not limited to this one use.

The tube 10 is shown as provided with a relatively stiff conical end portion 11- integral therewith, and an externally threaded neck 12 integral with the end 11. The neck is provided with a large bore 13 adjacent the end portion 11 and a smaller cylindrical bore 14 extending from the bore 13 through the top surface of the neck 12. The shoulder at the juncture of the bores is chamfered to form a conical seat 15.

The tube closures are preferably made in molds from a goodgrade of rubber and vulcanized to attain the desired elasticity. A tube closure such as shown in Figs. l to 12 inclusive is indicated generall at 16 and comprises a base 17 and an en portion 18. The shoulder at the juncture of the bore and end portion is beveled to conform with the conical seat 15 of the tube neck. The end 18 is so arranged as to form a cavity 19in the base, and extending from this cavity through the end 18 a valve slit 20 is provided.

To mount the closure 16 in the neck13 of sure through the'llar e end of the tube into the neck 13 until the eveled shoulder ofthe closure rests against the conical seat 15 of thel neck. The tube is then filled with suitable material in the usual manner and may be suppliedy witha metal v screw cap 21 to To extrude the contents from'the tube it is only necessary, after the cap 21 has been removed, to appl ressure to the tube and this pressure will7 fiirce the contents of the tube against the top of the cavity 19 of the closure 16 and cause the valve slit 20 to open and allow the tube contents to pass out as shown in Fig. 3. When the pressure on the tube is released the elasticity of the closure member will force the slit 20 tightly closed and prevent any further extrusion of the contents.

The valve port or slit may be formed in the closure either by the dies at the time ofmanufacture orafterwardsby the manufacturer, or still later by the user. This valve port may also be of various forms. In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive the closures shown are rovided with mold formed valve ports.

hen the valve port is formed in the lmold it is desirable to make the valve closure of an elliptical form as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with the major axis of the ellipse at right angles to the length of the valve port. When the elliptical closure is inserted into the cylindrical neck of the tube the conformation of the elliptical closure to the cylindrical neck willv cause the valve slot to close and become merely a slit. Y. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5,- I have shown the valve port asbeing a straight slit while in Figs. 4 and 6 I have shown the valve port as being of saw tooth form. With the saw tooth form a greater discharge of tube contents may be had in the same length as the vstraight slit and moreover the corrugated form of the material ejected causes it to remaine. g. on a tooth brush.

In Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive I have shown the closures as bein of the type wherein the valve port is ma e after the closure has been removed from the mold. In this type the closure member is formed in a c llndrical mold to conform to the bores 13 an 14 in the tube neck. In Figs. 7, 8, and 9,1 show the fclosure provided with a straight slit which may be made by either the .manufacturer orl the user with a suitable instrument. This closure is shown in Fig. 7 as it would be.

delivered to the user and shows the tube provided with a metal cap 21 similar to the one shown in Fi 1.

In Figs. 10 an 11 I show the tube closure `as provided with a round valve port 20a havin In Fig.'13 Iy have shown a modified formy of automatic valve closure 25 mounted in a single bore 26 in the neck. The closure 25 comprises a'cylindrical body 27 provided with a cavity 28 and a conical flange portion 29. The outer peripheral surface of the body 27 conforms to the inside of the bore 26 while the top surface of the conical flange conforms to the inner surface of the conical end portion 11 of the'tube 10. This closure is also provided with a valve port as shown at 30, extending from the cavity 28 out throu h the top ortion' of the body 25 and may e either ci) mentioned. This form of closure is also inserted into the neck through the large end of the tube before the tube 1s filled and the conical flange 29 prevents the body of the closure from passing beyond the end'of the neck. The manner of extruding the contents of the tube is the same as previously described.

In Fig. 14 I have shown another modified .35 the forms previously form of automatic valved tube closure indicated generally at 35. This closure is for the same type of neck as shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a base 36 and an end portion 37. The juncture of the base and end portion is chamfered as at 38 to conform to the seat 15 of the tube. The base is provided with a conical cavity 39 and has its inner bottom edge chamfered to facilitate the entrance into the cavity of the tube contents when the same is bein extruded. The top surface of the end portion 37 is concave as at39 and has a valve port 40 which may be of any of the previously described shapes. This closure' is also placed in posit1on through the large end of the tube before -the tube is filled and to extrude the contents of the tube for use the o erations are the same as previously describe What I claim is:

1. In combination with a collapsible tube an end portion, and a neck, a ilexible'c osure including a body having an internal projecting portion thereon engaging said neck, said portion havin an outwardly extending portion at its Iower extremity, said closure having a straight dispensing slit therein.

2. colla sible tube having a neck thereon,.sa1d nec having an inwardly directed flange, said flange having a chamfered lower end, and a rubber closure cap having a chamfered skirt thereon, the chamfer of said skirt ,fittingthe chamfer of said neck. 3. In combination with a collapsible tube having an end portion and having a neck thereon, a rubber closure including a body having a skirt portion thereon fitted in said neck, said skirt portion having an outwardly K extending portion at its lower extremity,- said' cap having a dispensing opening therein, 7

4.' The combination of a-collapsible tube having a flexible bodyand having a rela- 10 tively stifll end having a neck thereon, said neck having an inwardly directed` flange thereon anda wIiexible closure for said neck, said neck being cylindrical and said closure being normally elliptical in cross section, g5 said closure having a flexible skirt thereon,

said skirt being thickened and'iitting within said neck and engaging said flange, and a cover cap fitted over said closure.-

5. A `container tube having a. neck atone end thereof, said neck having abpre therein, Y a closure disposed in said borecomprising a resilient diaphragm extendingacross said -bore and having a slit therein, a tubular por-- tion joined to said diaphraglfrand fitting g5 the wall of said bore, and means to prevent displacement of said closure. 4

6. A container tube having at one end thereof a breast terminatingin a neck, said neck having a bore therein,a closure disposed in said bore Ycomprising a. resilientdiaphragm extending across said bore and having a slit therein, a tubular portion joined to said diaphragm and fitting the wall of said bore, and an annular iange joinedto said g5 tubular portion and .contacting with the breast of said tube to prevent displacement of said closure. r

7. A colla' sible tubular container having a neck, a resllient non-metallic closure snug# 4g l fitting in said neck, lips on said closure, t e undersides of said lips being beveled whereby the lips are spread apart and outwardly by pressure exerted on the' tube. 8. A Hexible dispensing tilbe provided with a neck having an inturned flange, and

a closure of resilient material disposed within said neck to rest ainst said ange, said closure having a conical recess-at `its inner end and a longitudinal discharge slit normally closed by the resilienc -of the i'naterial.`

In testimony whereof, hereunto. aix my signature. 

